Kindle Cover and Case

I finally got a Kindle. Years ago, when the second-generation Kindle came out, my in-laws and I went in together to buy one for my husband as a surprise Christmas gift. They were pretty pricey then, around $300, and I knew I’d rather spend our holiday money on one thing he’d really love than on a bunch of smaller things he’d only sorta like. So, the splurge. These days, though, the Kindle is pretty darn affordable–and since we already have Amazon Prime (which I use so much that if you bring it up in my presence it’ll be hard to shut me up) I can get all kinds of free books to read, which is awesome.*

I’ve been seeing, all over the web, different styles of e-reader covers a pouches. They’re always done in super cute fabric and with adorable button closures, and I loved, loved, loved them. I hesitated to make one, though, because what I really wanted wasn’t just a pouch but a COVER, something that I can put my Kindle in to travel–I’ve already taken it in the car a bunch, for waiting in the car pool line–and something that I can have it in AS I read, rather than a cover that gets set aside when I’m using the Kindle and then I forget about it when I’m done, and it falls behind the bed and I think I lost it but I don’t want to make another one because I already MADE one, I just can’t find it. Because who wants to make something lovely and then never use it?

Do you see the way my brain operates here?

So on Saturday, I designed this:

I knew I wanted it to protect the Kindle when I carry it around, so it’s made of home dec-weight cotton that’s interfaced, plus has a single layer of cotton batting for shock absorption.

Inside, there are small triangle anchors to hold the Kindle in by its corners. These new Kindles are only 6 ounces (!!), so it doesn’t take much to keep them in place. I just wanted something that would hold it steady while I’m reading.

I also wanted to make sure that the Kindle was really protected when I slip it in my bag or the mini-van or, God willing, take it to the beach over the summer–I should be so lucky. So I made the panel that has the little corner anchors on it into a pocket, so that I can slip the Kindle inside when I’m not reading. That makes it protected in my bag but also keeps it from getting dusty at home:

When I close it up, the 1/4″ elastic attached to the back wraps around and holds the cover in place to hold it all together and keep the Kindle from slipping out:

When the cover is open, though, and the Kindle is slipped under the little corner anchors, the same piece of elastic wraps around to the back and holds the cover open, so that the case becomes more like a tablet for the Kindle to rest on–it’s bigger than the little e-reader, and it has a nice soft hand-hold for me. Plus, the size of the opening lets me charge while the Kindle is in the case, whether the cover is open or closed.

Plus, I have access to the page forward and back buttons on either side of the Kindle when it’s in the case, which is lovely.

I’ve been testing it out, reading in bed, and I gotta say: I am beyond happy with how this project turned out. I had to fiddle just a bit with my estimated measurements at the beginning, but I am really pleased. It’s soft, comfortable in my hands, adds very little weight to the Kindle, and was really fun to make. And since I have all three of the Hunger Games books on here, plus about 30 free titles already, I am gonna need it.

*This isn’t an ad for the Kindle or for Amazon in any way–I sincerely just love the product and wanted to show off the cover I made!

24 Comments on “Kindle Cover and Case”

Seriously. She WILL talk about Amazon Prime if you give her ANY opening to do so at all. And she does it so compellingly and convincingly that after I listened to her at Whipstitch Retreat, I went out and signed up for Amazon Prime myself. And now I wonder what took me so long to do it. Great deal, love the free 2-day shipping.*

The Kindle cover is fantastic, Deborah. I especially like the pocket you can slide the Kindle into when you aren’t using it. That’s an added step of protection most over-the-counter kindle covers don’t offer. Super cute!

Great cover. I made my son one that is similar but used elastic across the top and under the screen to hold it. But I like having the pocket to store it much better. His is what I would call a mock up so I think version 2 will have the pocket. I looked at a lot of tutorial when I did his and didn’t find what I wanted. Yours is the best I have seen so far.

Oh, thanks so much! I loved the fabrics I saw used on a bunch of the other cases out there, but I didn’t love the functionality, so the pocket really was a deal-breaker for me. Would love to see your version if you end up making it!

It’s actually the first book in the John Carter series, the one that’s being made into a Disney movie? I wouldn’t have picked it up ordinarily, I don’t think, but then I learned it’s about a Civil War soldier who gets transported to Mars, and I was intrigued–especially when you know it was written by Edgar Rice Burroughs, who wrote the Tarzan books!

I love my Kindle. The only reason I opted to buy a cover was I really liked the one with the built in light! ( I can read anywhere).
I agree Amazon prime is amazing. I think they lose money on me but then I see how much I use it. 🙂 It’s cheaper than getting in the car and driving for 20 minutes.
Kindle’s are great if the book isn’t for reference or have a lot of pictures like a cook book. Your book is not what I think as “Kindle friendly” and besides some books, like yours, you want to pass down to your sewing heirs!

It’s funny you say that, because at one point, my book WAS available on Kindle, but it shouldn’t have been–I think the publisher has pulled it now and is planning to do an abridged digital edition without patterns. But I agree: there is little to compare to the feel of a craft book in your hands and being able to flip through the pages and gaze at the eye candy!

Oh that is a nummy cover!! Thanks for the kick in the pants — my poor kindle is crammed into a ipad cover/stand I found for $10 — works ok but a bit big and sloppy. A rear kick stand is helpful for hands free reading. off to tinker!!

Only 30 free books! I think I have a thousand at least. Prime is awesome. I watch some thing from the free streaming videos at least once a day I think and the 2 day shipping is sweet! Love the cover. I agree, I’ve not seen many I like but this one I sure do.

My kids had to have kindles for school, and I made them covers similar to this. After one of there’s got a big “smear” on it that wouldn’t go away (had to replace it, amazon is great to work with)–I went into the front cover and added layers of fun foam to add more protection to the screen. I’m even thinking now that I want to replace the fun foam with that really thin masonite board (I think that is what it is) for even more protection for my two boys.

Hmmmm… Maybe! I’m waiting for some fabric I ordered to come in that I think will be really lovely for a second version–I might want to add a wee bit more padding. If I do a second one, I’ll shoot photos for you all! 🙂